Sequential Power-Dependence Theory

Social Exchange Networks: A Review of Experimental Studies

“…The theories presented so far share the assumption that all exchanges in a network happen simultaneously. In contrast, Sequential Power-Dependence Theory, developed by Buskens and Van De Rijt (2008), considers the sequential nature inherent to exchange. As soon as two agents have decided to exchange, the opportunity structure for the remaining agents in the network changes and this, in turn, may change their bargaining power.…”

“…The anticipation of a potential loss of power should cause profit splits to be more equal than usually predicted in such a network. Buskens and Van De Rijt (2008) develop a measure to predict unique profit splits for every dyadic relation in every possible network type under consideration of a changing opportunity structure.…”

The stability of exchange networks

“…They specify the expected exchange benefits for each actor in the network. Many theories of network exchange have been developed and tested in the last three decades; power-dependence theory (e.g., Cook and Emerson, 1978;Cook and Yamagishi, 1992), exchange-resistance theory (e.g., Skvoretz and Willer, 1993), a graph analytic theory using the graph-theoretic power index (GPI) (e.g., Markovsky et al, 1988), core theory (e.g., Bienenstock and Bonachich, 1992), optimal seek theory (Willer and Simpson, 1999), identity theory (Burke, 1997), Yamaguchi's (1996Yamaguchi's ( , 2000 rational choice model, expected value theory (e.g., Friedkin, 1992), non-cooperative bargaining models (Berg and Panther, 1998;Braun and Gautschi, 2006), and a recent model that takes sequentiality of exchange into account (Buskens and Van de Rijt, 2008a). Four theories have received more attention than the other theories (Willer, 1999; special issue Social Networks, June 1992; special issue Rationality and Society, January 1997); core theory, power-dependence theory, expected value theory, and NET, which is a combination of exchange-resistance, GPI, and optimal seek theories.…”

Models of Power in Exchange Networks

“…These questions have attracted the attention of many researchers over the past 40 years and there have been many theories or models for power in exchange networks proposed, including power dependence theory (Cook and Emerson, 1978;Cook and Yamagishi, 1992;Buskens and van de Rijt, 2008), Vulnerability theory (Cook et al, 1983;Cook et al, 1986), graph power index or GPI theory (Markovsky et al, 1988;Patton and Willer, 1990;Markovsky et al, 1993), expected value theory (Friedkin, 1992(Friedkin, , 1993Bonacich and Friedkin, 1998), core theory Bonacich, 1992, 1993;Bonacich andBienenstock, 1995, 1997), exchange-resistance theory , reciprocity theory (Skvoretz and Lovaglia, 1995), identity theory (Burke, 1997), and versions of network exchange theory, which include optimal seek theory (Simpson and Willer, 1999;Girard and Borch, 2003) and, most recently, domain analysis theory (Willer et al, 2012). In a systematic survey of predictions, van de Rijt and van Assen (2008: p. 260) restrict attention to four core theory, power dependence theory, expected value theory, and network exchange theorybecause "no theories have been investigated as much and received as much attention as these theories.…”

“…Power dependence theory assumes that actors evaluate offers from partners in relation to how much they could get in some alternative relation (Cook and Emerson, 1978;Cook and Yamagishi, 1992;Buskens and van de Rijt, 2008). This possible payoff from an alternative partner is the actor's comparison level for exchanges with a focal partner.…”